Kuwait airways to avoid Iraq airspace

Kuwait Airways said Sunday it will no longer overfly Iraq in the wake of US air strikes on jihadist positions there, the latest company to re-route its flights.

The airline said the decision concerned flights heading to Europe and the United States.

"Alternative routes will pass over Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt," a statement said.

The Federal Aviation Administration in Washington banned all US civilian flights over Iraq just hours after American warplanes Friday carried out the first air strikes on positions held by jihadists of the Islamic State, who have occupied swathes of northern Iraq.

A slew of airlines have also said they will no longer overfly Iraq, including British Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Air France, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways.